Category Archives: Native Texan

Monday, May 16, 2016 – Smoking in the Boys’ Room

Posted on May 16, 2016 | 1 comment

Monday, May 16, 2016 – Smoking in the Boys’ Room – You wish that was all that is going on in a high school bathroom.

Note: This is not about transgender and bathroom issues. It is about the Texas Executive Branch making decisions it does not have a statutory authority to make.

To: Governor Greg Abbot and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick,

I have a few questions regarding The Bathroom Issue. Now I did not go to law school, but I am pretty good at educational law and looking at schools.

When was the last time either of you went to a bathroom in a high school? Not the one in the teachers’ lounge or in the principal’s office. The one for the students at the end of the hall. Or the bathroom isolated in the building somewhere. Do you have any idea what can and does go on in a middle or high school bathroom? And sadly, even elementary school bathrooms have bullies and fights.

Governor Abbott? Is filing lawsuits against the Executive Branch of the federal government all you know how to do? How much does this cost me and the taxpayers of Texas? Wouldn’t these dollars be better spent going to the public schools of Texas?

Pictorial representation of the educational institution in Texas. Photo by me.

Check for understanding: The Texas Executive Office (that would be Abbott and Costello, I mean Patrick) are willing to sacrifice the boys and girls of the Texas public schools by not accepting federal education money over school bathrooms? And you two made this decision on your own?

Don’t both of your offices in the capitol have private potties? Was the Governor’s bathroom modified to accommodate wheels?

Here’s What I’m Thinking – How about labeled port-a-potties? Line them up outside like privies. Label them. Color code them. One can go to the bathroom under which ever label they feel most comfortable.

Labels include, but not limited to:

Transgender Male to Female
Transgender Female to Male
Still Confused
Straight Boys
Gay Boys
Straight Girls
Lesbians
Don’t Care
Unisex
Bisex
Transex
Metrosex
Asex
Straight Males of Color
Straight Females of Color
Gay People of Color

I suggest you place a row of port-a-potties near the athletic facilities. This should include portable facilities broken down by sport:

Football
Men’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball
Track
Field

You get the idea. These could be pay toilets like there were in the 1950’s. One had to pay to pee. Fund raisers for the booster clubs perhaps.

It could bring good advertising opportunities for local businesses. Just think – This port-a-potty for Straight Boys is sponsored by Kevin’s Klean Kars!

Save your Confederate Toilet Paper. The South is Gonna Rise Again!

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Posted in Education, Native Texan, Politics

Tagged Dan Patrick, Gregg Abbott, Texas politics, transgender bathrooms

Friday, May 13, 2016 – To Pee or Not to Pee – That is the Question.

Posted on May 13, 2016 | 1 comment

Friday, May 13, 2016 – To Pee or Not to Pee – That is the Question.

Snarky Friday Returns. It is Friday, the 13th and a full moon. The crazy people come into the light.

Photo by me. Austin Graffiti Wall August 2013

I am not fond of lawmakers trying to pass legislation about my body or my bodily functions. I just do not think morality can be legislated. Urinating does appear to be an unalienable right and does fall under life, since one will die if he or she does not urinate. I suppose liberty and pursuit of happiness do fall into the bowl too. Liberty as in “free to pee” and happiness since, well, who isn’t happy with an empty bladder? But should this be a political issue?

I see where Lt. Governor of Texas Dan Patrick is willing to fall on his sword regarding the Fort Worth Independent School District and the Superintendent’s stance on transgender bathrooms.

Which part of INDEPENDENT School District do you not understand, Lt. Gov. Patrick? Last time I looked at the Texas Constitution and the Texas Education Code, the Executive Office cannot single out one school district and make decisions for the district. It falls under local control – you know that platform you advocate?

Regardless of one’s opinion on transgender and bathrooms and who pees where, the issue is authoritarian control by the Texas Legislature regarding school districts and the policies adopted locally.

One must listen carefully to the language used. Tomorrow the POTUS will issue a “Directive” to public schools regarding transgender and bathrooms. In spite of Lt. Governor Patrick’s rhetoric, it is not an Executive Order. It is not a law. It does not “force” anybody to do anything. Lt. Gov, you are just making up stuff as you usually do and the lemmings march to the sea behind you.

I wonder how the bathrooms will look in the proposed 63 MILLION dollar football stadium in McKinney ISD. At that price tag there could be many bathrooms. Something for everyone. I wonder how much instruction 63 million dollars would provide?

Oh well. I hope you get to pee wherever you want to.

Contributions to this article come from The Yellow Stream, by I.P. Freely.

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Posted in College Football, Education, Native Texan, Politics

Tagged Texas Legislature, transgender bathrooms

May 10, 2016 – What Are the Odds? Who Will Win the Division I NCAA National Football Championship?

Posted on May 12, 2016 | Leave a comment

May 10, 2016 – What Are the Odds? Who Will Win the Division I NCAA National Football Championship? Who Will Reach the Top?

The odds makers in Las Vegas have been busy listing the chances for Division I NCAA football teams to win the 2016 National Championship. Of course this is as of today. It does not take into consideration torn ACLs or other season ending injuries. Nor does it take into account arrest warrants, actual arrests and jail time.

Before the Tide can roll in, yes Bama is #1 and has 8-1 odds to repeat as National Champions.

Photo by me. Sign in College Station. Tailgating at A&M Bama Game, 2016.

The usual teams round out the top 10. Dabo and Clemson also have 8-1 odds. LSU you are listed with 12 to 1 odds.

Billy Cannon 8.10.2014 2014-08-10 004 - Copy (600x800)

My shirt. Eat your heart out, Tigers. This shirt is autographed by Heisman Trophy Winner, Billy Cannon AND his blocker, my dear cousin (RIP) Donnie Daye.

Baylor you round out the top ten with 20 to 1 odds.

Photo by me. Alaska – 2914.

The next 10 teams have the possibility to screw up national championship dreams for the teams above them.

The Texas Aggies are given 100-1 odds.

Kyle Field Tour 11.19.15 2015-11-18 014 (800x600)

Photo by me – Kyle Field Tour 11.19.15 2015

Photo by Martha

Why are you laughing THE University of Texas?

Those are the same odds you have. At least the Aggies have a Knight in maroon armor, assuming he doesn’t take the train from the College Station. What is worse is that The University of Houston has 80-1 odds to win.

Of course we all know who will really win the National Championship – Dr. Pepper and Larry Culpepper and of course ESPN, NIKE, Adidas, Under Armor and all of the others.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/futures/

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Posted in College Football, Native Texan, Texas Aggies

Tagged Alabama, Baylor, Big 12 Conference, college football, Crimson Tide, ESPN, LSU, SEC, Texas A&M, Texas Aggies

Tuesday, May, 10, 2016 – Here’s What I’m Thinking – or Déjà vu all over again.

Posted on May 10, 2016 | 1 comment

Tuesday, May, 10, 2016 – Here’s What I’m Thinking – or Déjà vu all over again.

Given that I somehow picked up a cyber bucket load of friends over the weekend I thought I better tell everyone about Here’s What I’m Thinking again. I am already wondering how many have Unfollowed or Unfriended me already.

I write a weblog called Here’s What I’m Thinking (HWIT). The blog then connects to Facebook and other social media sites. The easiest way to read what I am thinking about is to Google Drdrd85.me. It should take you directly to the website.

The purpose is to make at least one person smile/laugh or think every day – Monday through Friday and sometimes on the weekend. Notice: it is not called Here’s What I Believe. Nor it is called Here’s What I think You Should Believe.

During the seasons (college football and college basketball) I write about sports. But it is not your ordinary sports column – mine include critiques of all fashion attire from the press box to the field. “Bent Mushberger? Who dressed you this morning? Please retire and go away.”

Monday is always My Monday after Football Weekend Awards. You can almost bet money that The Ugliest Uniform Award will go to the West Coast and probably from Oregon. Is there NIKE factory just for pukey yellow?

I write about teams I like and teams that play teams that I like. This includes The Fighting Texas Aggies, the LSU Tigers, the rest of the SEC except for Florida and any school from that peninsula. I write about Uncle Will Muschamp at SC or whatever school happens to have hired him. I write about the Baylor Bears, THE University of Texas at Austin and what is left of the Big 12 Conference, the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks and Notre Dame or RL and refer to them as the NBC Network Conference.

Sidebar: Alabama. I have nothing to say about the school at the moment. But I know if I do not specifically mention Alabama, the Roll Tide Roll readers will comment.

Somedays I think about politics. Since none of us seem to know what to think about this year’s presidential election, I am a bipartisan snark. For example: Please sign the petition to get Hillary to stop wearing the green brocade jacket. It looks like you made it from the parlor curtains. Or perhaps to Mr. Trump – Sir, if elected will you have your private plane repainted as Air Force One or will you purchase a new one?”

I seem to have a diverse group of readers representing many views and experiences. Please know I respect you and your views. While I may disagree with you on some issues I will defend to the death and Remember the Alamo your right to say it.

Some days I write about the Texas public education system and the educational institution. You think the loss of cursive writing is an issue. See what else is happening to the youth of America.

As the first Native Born Texan in the family, I post many topics about Texas.

My Proud to be from Texas Wall.

But as my dear Mama used to say “The only thing that separates a Coon Ass from a Jack Ass is the Sabine River.” Some days Louisiana gets the topic de jour. See French. Good, huh?

And of course I write about my family and friends. This is how I get readers. They live in fear of what I am going to say. If I know you or have known you, I WILL write about you at some point in time. You should hope I refer to you with a loving nickname because I like you and only you know who you are. If I don’t like you, I might add all of your personal information including a MapQuest link to your house.

At least 98% of what I post is my original work including photographs. The remaining 2% comes from other postings only if I am impressed or too lazy to post my own work. If I use some one’s photo, I try to give credit to the photographer or from whose collection I borrowed it.

That is a summary of Here’s What I Thinking. Thank you for reading. I hope you find something along the way to make you smile or think about.

Photo by me.

CC: Hillary Clinton’s email server

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Posted in college basketball, College Football, Education, Misc., Native Texan, Politics, Texas Aggies

Tagged Alabama, Baylor, Baylor Bears, Big 12 Conference, college football, College Football; Texas Aggies, Crimson Tide, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, LSU, NCAA, Notre Dame, SEC, Texas A&M, Texas Longhorns, The University of Texas

Monday, May 9, 2016 – Texas Aggies – Armed and Dangerous

Posted on May 9, 2016 | Leave a comment

Monday, May 9, 2016 – Texas Aggies – Armed and Dangerous

I am not referring to the fact that we as Texans can carry hand-guns like real rootin’ tootin’ gun totin’ cowboys from days of yore. Like so many public universities, TAMU has campus carry. You can carry your handgun, but only in selected areas. I hope if a shooter shoots it is where I can carry my gun.

Campus tour 7.5.2014 2014-07-05 098 (800x600)

FYI – You can’t carry your gun here, Pilgrim.

I am referring to the no-hit shut out pitched by Texas Aggie Kyle Simonds against # 10 Vanderbilt. Try that on with your Gloria jeans from the 1980’s.

Simonds made history as only the 11th Aggie in over 100 years to pitch a no hitter. Vanderbilt hit the ball hard in the ninth, but center fielder Nick Choruby made a spectacular diving catch. The game was one error away from Simonds pitching a perfect game. But it was a Maddux just the same. For a game to be a Maddux, the pitcher must toss a complete game shutout, and throw fewer than 100 pitches. Simonds threw 83 pitches. Can I get a big WHOOP, please!

It is a long way still to Omaha and the College World Series on June 18-28/29. Of course the Aggies must get through the dreaded SEC with good teams such as LSU and Florida. We will meet the Commodores (not the Lionel Richie group) again too.

Hopefully the Aggie baseball pitching staff is deep and strong enough to carry us to and through the tournament to the dogpile in Omaha. I wonder if one of those pitchers can play quarterback.

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Posted in Education, Native Texan, Texas Aggies

Tagged college baseball, CWS, no hitter, SEC, Texas Aggie baseball

Saturday, May 7, 2016 – The Still Magnolias

Posted on May 7, 2016 | Leave a comment

Saturday, May 7, 2016 – The Still Magnolias

Facebook Post to Magnolia High School Friends Group

May 6, 2016

Did you graduate from Magnolia High School (MHS) in Magnolia, Texas? Did someone from Magnolia make a difference in your life growing up there? Would you like to remember and/or honor that person and make a difference in the lives of MHS students today?

If so, please join The Still Magnolias on our journey. By virtue of your graduation from MHS you are now a Still Magnolia.

Magnolia, Texas – 1960 (ish) Photo by Howard (Uncle Dave) Davenport. From the collection of Howard Davenport, Jr.

Several months ago a group of Magnolia High School graduates from various years had lunch. After many conversations of “Remember when… and “What happened to so and so?” the conversations and lunch ended with “Wouldn’t it be nice if we did something for Magnolia High School?” And so began the dream and the journey. We called our group – The Still Magnolias.

We then sought the wisdom of The Greatest Still Magnolia of us all – Celeste Graves who always was and is a treasure. With her guidance and with the leadership of Dr. Todd Stephens, Magnolia ISD Superintendent, the Magnolia Education Foundation (MEF) leaders and Guidance and Career Counselors at Magnolia High School we did it! We started something nice for Magnolia High School. We call our project – The Molly Memorial and Scholarship Fund.

Molly was selected as the name in memory of Molly Harper Fowler from the MHS Class of 1967. There was a Molly in everyone’s class and heart. She represents the classmate we forgot about until it was too late. Rather than focus on what we could or should have done, we chose to focus on what we can do now.

The purpose of The Molly Memorial and Scholarship Fund is to remember and honor those who influenced us while growing up in Magnolia. These were and are our loved ones, our teachers, our mentors and our friends. In their memory and honor we can pay it forward and assist students of Magnolia High School today and tomorrow.

We ask all Still Magnolias to help us grow this project and double our goals for next year. No amount is too small. Amounts donated will be not made public, but a listing of Memorials and Honors is under development.

The Still Magnolias would like to send special love and thank you to three Still Magnolias from the classes of 1954, 1966, and 1967. Their generous donations funded the two $500 Still Magnolia Scholarships to be awarded to two MHS graduating Seniors on May 19, 2016.

Special love and thank you to the Still Magnolias from other classes whose donations provided over $1000 to Magnolia High School for the beginning of next school year.

When submitting a donation, people may state how they want their donation to be listed. We thought you might like to see a few of the memory and honor submissions so far.

In Memory and Honor Of

Anonymous – in memory and in honor of all my high school coaches – Dean Shaver, Roland Jones, Roy “Bo” Jackson, and Gayle McGinty

Anonymous – in memory and honor of all the military heroes from MHS with special memories of and honors to the Vietnam Vets

Barbara Bingle Hawkins – in honor of my teacher, mentor and friend – Celeste Graves

Becky Lott Rao – in memory of my parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Lott

Celeste Graves – in memory of my friends Don and Joyce Jeter, Lucille Horace and Esther Semora Seber

Deann B. Alger – in honor of my parents, Don A. Buckalew (MHS Class of 1952) and Dale Duffey Crane (MHS Class of 1954)

Delia Duffey – in memory of my classmates and friends – Molly Harper Fowler and Ira (Sonny) Calvert; in honor of my two great English and literature teachers – Wanda G. Traugh and Marge Burnside

Jenette Wade Alford – in memory of my parents, Leslie (L.P.) and Virgie Wade and in loving memory of my dear sister, Ella Wade Robertson (MHS 1954)

Joyce Fleming Powers – in memory of my husband, Ken Powers and my cousin, Bobby Carraway

Karen Rickett – in memory of my classmate and friend, John Paul Warren

Naomi Dennis Peacock Ross – in honor of my mentor, friend and BFF, Celeste Graves

Odessa Horace Ross – in memory of my Mother, Lucille Horace and in honor my family

Sonja Hinton Baker – in memory of W.M. Hinton, Reber M. Hinton, Dayton Wayne Baker, Sr., Dayton Wayne Baker, Jr. and O.B “Jake” Baker

Tommy Glass – in memory of my sister, Marie Ann Glass

Please share on your FB timelines and we hope you can join us on this journey.

Go Bulldogs!

The Still Magnolias

If you would like to donate the submission and tax exempt forms are attached. Actually they are not, but if you message me I will get them to you.

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Posted in Education, Native Texan, The Still Magnolias

Tagged Magnolia, Magnolia High School, Texas

Thursday, May 5, 2016 – Happy Cinco de Mayo! It is NOT Mexican Independence Day!

Posted on May 5, 2016 | Leave a comment

Thursday, May 5, 2016 – Happy Cinco de Mayo! It is NOT Mexican Independence Day!

Photo by me. January 15, 1991. Inauguration of Governor Ann Richards.

Good morning boys and girls,

Our vocabulary word for today is Margaritaceous. It is an adjective describing how you will feel with that first sip of the celebratory margarita you have today. Whenever you are celebrating Cinco de Mayo, I am thinking the following information could prove useful to you.

Cinco de Mayo—or the fifth of May—commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). It is relatively minor holiday in Mexico. In the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations. Today the United States has the largest population in the world that celebrates Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the United States.

Actually, the definition of margaritaceous is “resembling mother-of-pearl; pearly.” But doesn’t that describe a margarita? Resembling mother-of-pearl?

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Posted in Education, Misc., Native Texan, Politics

Tagged Cinco de Mayo

Wednesday, May 4, 2016 – Golf, Politics and Football

Posted on May 4, 2016 | Leave a comment

Wednesday, May 4, 2016 – Golf, Politics and Football

The Briarcrest Women’s Golf Association begins play today in The President’s Cup Tournament. For the next three Wednesday’s we play 18 holes and turn in our two best score cards.

Speaking of score cards… It appears Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be the finalists for rest of the campaign circus. I saw where one could get a “Woman Card” from the Hillary campaign. Am I going to need this to go to a public bathroom? Say for example – when I am tailgating at Kyle Field?

Four months from today, Texas Aggies across the world will be reading of the Aggie football team’s victory over UCLA. Football season is three months and 29 days away from kickoff. The 2016 SEC Championship Game is predicted to be between LSU and Tennessee. Tennessee? Rocky Top and the Tigers?

The Texas Aggies have a 100 to 1 chance of winning the National Football Championship. Why are you laughing – THE University of Texas at Austin? They are the same odds you have of raising the National Championship trophy in Austin. Both schools should be crying – those are the same odds of The University of Houston winning the championship.

Tailgating @ Kyle Field – 2015 When Alabama came to town.

Gig’Em! We do have a Knight in shining maroon armor. I hope I have a golf club that shines today. Please let it be the putter.

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Posted in College Football, Native Texan, Politics, Texas Aggies

Tagged College Football; Texas Aggies, LSU, SEC Championship, SEC Conference

Sunday, May 1, 2016 – It’s May! It’s May! The Lusty Month of May! Vote for Von!

Posted on May 1, 2016 | 1 comment

Sunday, May 1, 2016 – It’s May! It’s May! The Lusty Month of May! Vote for Von!

Since I will be out tomorrow hopefully making the world a better place, enjoy a special edition of HWIT and vote for Von!

Here’s What I’m Thinking. Von Miller, his partner and all the male dancers on Dancing with the Stars should dance to The Aggie Song from Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Video at the end. YEE-HAW!

Better than an Aggie football game?

They’ve never seen a body quite like this!

Right between the goals!

75 miles until we get to heaven;

75 miles until our plans are laid,

75 miles until we get to The Chicken Ranch

Where history and Aggie Boys get made.